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Q: How to help motivate Chinese staff
Hi everyone, The company I work for is trying to overhaul its image in portraying an international image and is trying to get its Chinese staff to speak more English however a majority of staff are very reluctant, the number one complaint is they don’t see the point in speaking English when native English speakers are already employed. I am trying to come up with ideas to help motivate them and thought maybe some forum users might have some good ideas in how to help motivate the staff, what are the benefits of using English and perhaps the company could offer some incentive. It would be great to get some tips or advice as so far no one wants to use English unless money is involved and I would like other ideas besides financial gains.
9 years 29 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
You came up with the solution yourself. Give them money
Make up some sort of bullshit monthly award with a dodgy certificate and a small basket of snacks or a supermarket gift card for the one who speaks the most english.
Make a big deal of it at the staff meeting but keep the first one secret so that it's a big surprise for the first winner and the others.
My opinion - fire them!
It's their job, it's what they've been told to do as part of their job - if they don't want to do their job, fire them... Find others who will do the job. Once the first one has been fired, I'm sure the others will quickly change their attitude.
Englteachted:
Agreed! I've never heard of employees turning down an opportunity to develop a skill on company time with company funding. They are clearly just plain lazy.
Eorthisio:
Agree, this is China, for one employee fired you got 100 qualified people behind the door hoping to get the job.
Sounds like a face issue for the company to me. Why should the Chinese staff speak more English in work unless they are dealing with their foreign colleagues? If they have to deal with customers then fine......but as they already employ some foreign staff then what is the point?
Is there really a need for them to speak English?
I've witnessed those in the service industry whose job requires English but also many companies that would like that "international image" but whose workers really have no use for it.
Other than that, if English is a desirable skill, then it's HR's job to tie promotions and bonuses to achieving certain targets in English (non-threatening, face-saving option).
If you're really looking for an incentive, then suggest the boss offer a one-week's paid holiday somewhere nice and English-speaking as a reward for meeting whatever proficiency target they are hoping for.
Hmm... I have been introduced to this issue myself.
Here are some good ones:
- having social outings in places dominated mainly with foreigners (keep them separated and don't like the bunch and use only Chinese)
- having a English speech contest with a reward (Chinese are competitive)
- finding out their interests and suggesting some shows, music, books in English (this HELPS a lot, even video games or something).
- hinting that English speakers will get raises or promotions above others
- hiring an enforcer that pushes EVERYONE in the office to speak English at all times (all the Chinese will hate the guy, but if someone is always on their asses, they will improve)
They don't see the point in learning the language of their co-workers (native speakers are already employed)...how Chinese...Why s
I honestly don't see why everyone here is trying to pander to their egos. They are being paid to do a job. Part of the job (now) requires them to use English in the work environment. If they don't want to do that, then you find someone who will... simple!
YTF should the company have to pay MORE money out because the staff 'don't feel like it'? (ie, speak English).
There are tens of thousands of university graduates who go into crap jobs every year in China - many of whom will have ok to good English skills.
I'm sure, back home, if someone blatantly refused (or ignored) a job requirement, they wouldn't get paid MORE to fulfill the job description...
(and, before anyone goes on about "it's not a job requirement" - it is now! The company wants the "international image" - meaning they want to expand and increase profits. By NOT getting involved in this image boosting, the Chinese staff are effectively saying they don't want the business to do (much) better.
Hence - fire them!
Please - if there's a logic that over-rides this basic tenet, please tell me what it is!
Sinobear:
OP never said that the Chinese staff are required to use English, only that it's desired.
Shining_brow:
However, I presume ALL the staff were hired because they could speak English, thus making English-speaking a job requirement.
Do I also need to point out the dis-respect factor of using a language that people don't understand, when a language that ALL understand is available?? (unless it is something 'personal' - in which case,, why would it be discussed in public?)
Sinobear:
But now you've digressed from the OP's question. They desire the staff to use English - it wasn't a stated requirement. He's looking for motivational suggestions, not ultimatums.
Quite frankly, forcing Chinese people to learn English is a huge mistake (shoe on the other foot, how would you feel if you were forced to learn Mandarin back home if it had no potential to be used in your daily life?). It causes resentment and pushes those who cannot easilly learn another language (just look at what forcing Mandarin on Cantonese speakers is doing) to become nationalistic and xenophobic.
Learning another language should be encouraged and progress should be rewarded for those who have the ambition and aptitude.
Shining_brow:
Well Sino, I do see your point. Really, I do.
However, your argument lacks the force (on me) you may think it has.
Your analogy of having to learn Mandarin back home isn't quite fitting... and, the obvious reason behind this is - they're working in a multi-national company where English is the main business language - hence, they've been hired because they have the language skills. I would totally agree with you if it was a purely domestic company, and just wanted to increase its image - but apparently it's not!
I also presume that those hired have chosen to study English further to their school life - English or business English majors??
( I do agree with your statement about forcing ppl - everyone - to learn a language is just stupid! However, being multi-lingual is a very good skill in today's society. And, in fact, the majority of the world's people are indeed multi-lingual (to some extent)).
Your last line I get... but they're no longer 'learning' and are now 'employed'... as I said, there's tens of thousands of un- or -under-employed university graduates out there, many of whom would be quite capable of doing the job, and speaking the language... why pander??
Robk:
I will nullify your obviously logical argument by countering it with a Chinese logic of the highest standard. But in order for you understand this 5000 year of enlightenment you must first bang your head relentlessly against the wall for an hour straight.
And if you decide be awash in the awe that is the Chinese understanding, you can never truly go back to your inferior Western logic. What say you?
Shining is correct. Even if they would never use it, if the company asks you to use some of your work time to develop a skill and the company provide the tools and pay for the time (if they were asked to take classes outside of normal working hours) then you jump at it, you will be more valuable.
I am assuming you are their manager because they act spoiled when they have a foreigner as their boss. Chinese bosses screw them on OT, steal from their salaries, pay them late, make them wear hideous amounts of make up, cut their hair, make them crawl on the floor and they take it.
Make it voluntary and those that sign up, keep them. Those who refuse replace them. Your company will be better off.
Shining_brow:
I'm presuming they are already competent English speakers, from the way the OP said "speak more English"... and it didn't sound like they were offering courses or training. Hence, they're just bitching because.... they can! However, your idea sounds sound to me! :)
I got nothing but I liked PoutineDuFions methods
http://answers.echinacities.com/question/how-motivate-employees-be-moar-...
Ok, since some ppl think I'm too harsh, let's compromise...
Link their willingness to improve the company and its image (ie, speaking more English in the office) to the one thing that you aren't obliged to pay, but they all expect - the end of year bonus!
Announce that the more Chinese they speak in the office unnecessarily, the lower the end of year bonus they will receive. 2 weeks from now, have a 1 on 1 with your staff, and tell them how much their bonus has been reduced by due to "lack of teamwork, and an unwilligness to be a part of the company". And, this reduction will only get bigger if the attitude doesn't change.
Watch the change... 
If you want a good international image, then hire committed professionals who don't need their hands held or play online or QQ when they think no-one is watching.
If given the free opportunity to up-skill in a company, any decent professional would jump at the opportunity regardless of the immediacy of the reward. I have done so at every opportunity and have reaped the long term benefit of it
most students i encounter don't take a long term view of learning, so you are battling against an embedded culture of instant gratification. and no future vision.
